Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

One example is providing users with information about potential intermediate stops around their route in advance. [Solution] The information processing device 10 comprises a candidate identification unit 110, an information acquisition unit 130, and a generation unit 150. The candidate identification unit 110 uses route information indicating the route to the destination to identify candidate intermediate locations located within a predetermined range based on the route. The information acquisition unit 130 acquires information regarding the candidate intermediate locations. The generation unit 150 generates output data using the acquired information regarding the candidate intermediate locations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] When going out by car or the like, it is possible to search for a route on a map to a destination using a navigation device or the like.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses presenting information on risks existing in a driving route from a departure point desired by a user of a vehicle to an end point to the user as pre-learned information before the vehicle starts driving.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, with the technology of Patent Document 1, it was not possible to obtain information other than those related to risks in advance.

[0006] As an example of the problem to be solved by the present invention, it is possible to provide information on candidate places of passage located within a predetermined range around a route to a user in advance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The invention according to claim 1 is a candidate specifying unit that specifies candidate places of passage located within a predetermined range with respect to the route, using route information indicating the route to a destination; an information acquisition unit that acquires information on the candidate places of passage; The system includes a generation unit that generates output data using the acquired information regarding candidate transit points. It is an information processing device.

[0008] The invention described in claim 10 is, An information processing method performed by one or more computers, A candidate identification step involves using route information that indicates the route to the destination to identify candidate intermediate locations that are located within a predetermined range based on the said route, An information acquisition step to acquire information about the aforementioned candidate transit locations, This includes a generation step of generating output data using the acquired information on candidate transit points. It is an information processing method.

[0009] The invention described in claim 11 is, Computers, Candidate identification means that uses route information indicating the route to the destination to identify candidate intermediate locations located within a predetermined range based on the said route, Information acquisition means for acquiring information about the aforementioned candidate transit points, and A generation means that generates output data using the acquired information on candidate transit points. To make it function as It is a program. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This figure illustrates an overview of an information processing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure illustrates an overview of the information processing method according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This figure illustrates the functional configuration of the information processing device and system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates a computer used to implement an information processing device. [Figure 5] This figure illustrates an example of an image displayed using the output data. [Figure 6]It is a flowchart exemplifying the processing flow executed by the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] It is a diagram exemplifying the functional configurations of the information processing apparatus and the system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a flowchart exemplifying the processing flow executed by the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a diagram exemplifying the functional configurations of the information processing apparatus and the system according to the third embodiment.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0012] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram exemplifying the outline of the information processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. The information processing apparatus 10 includes a candidate specifying unit 110, an information acquisition unit 130, and a generation unit 150. The candidate specifying unit 110 specifies via candidate locations that are located within a predetermined range with respect to a route, using route information indicating a route to a destination. The information acquisition unit 130 acquires information regarding the via candidate locations. The generation unit 150 generates output data using the acquired information regarding the via candidate locations.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram exemplifying the outline of the information processing method according to the present embodiment. The information processing method according to the present embodiment is executed by one or more computers. The information processing method according to the present embodiment includes a candidate specifying step S10, an information acquisition step S20, and a generation step S30. In the candidate specifying step S10, via candidate locations that are located within a predetermined range with respect to a route are specified using route information indicating a route to a destination. In the information acquisition step S20, information regarding the via candidate locations is acquired. In the generation step S30, output data is generated using the acquired information regarding the via candidate locations.

[0014] The information processing method according to this embodiment can be executed by the information processing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment.

[0015] According to the information processing apparatus 10 and the information processing method according to this embodiment, information on candidate places to pass through around the route can be provided to the user in advance. Therefore, for example, a user who intends to go sightseeing can consider in advance, that is, before departure, where to stop, what to see, or what to eat, etc. during the process to the destination. If these can be considered in advance, time for searching for surrounding information during the actual trip can be saved, and the time during the trip can be used meaningfully.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the functional configurations of the information processing apparatus 10 and the system 20 according to this embodiment. In the example of FIG. 3, the system 20 includes an information processing apparatus 10, an output unit 210, and an input unit 230. Further, in the example of FIG. 3, the information processing apparatus 10 further includes an output control unit 170, an input reception unit 120, a reliability identification unit 140, and a history storage unit 101. Note that the information processing apparatus 10 may not include the reliability identification unit 140.

[0017] Examples of the output unit 210 include a display unit and an audio output unit. Examples of the display unit include a display and the like. Examples of the audio output unit include a speaker and earphones and the like. The output control unit 170 of the information processing apparatus 10 causes the output unit 210 to output information. The system 20 may include a plurality of output units 210. The output control unit 170 may output information to the plurality of output units 210.

[0018] Examples of the input unit 230 include a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone and the like. The input reception unit 120 of the information processing apparatus 10 receives an input from the user based on an operation performed on the input unit 230. The system 20 may include a plurality of input units 230. Note that the system 20 may include a touch panel that also serves as the output unit 210 and the input unit 230.

[0019] The hardware configuration of the information processing device 10 is described below. Each functional component of the information processing device 10 (candidate identification unit 110, information acquisition unit 130, generation unit 150, input reception unit 120, output control unit 170, and reliability identification unit 140) may be implemented by hardware that realizes each functional component (e.g., hardwired electronic circuits), or by a combination of hardware and software (e.g., a combination of electronic circuits and a program that controls them). The case in which each functional component of the information processing device 10 is implemented by a combination of hardware and software will be described further below.

[0020] Figure 4 illustrates a computer 1000 for implementing the information processing device 10. Computer 1000 is any computer. For example, computer 1000 could be an SoC (System on Chip), a Personal Computer (PC), a server machine, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone. Computer 1000 may be a dedicated computer designed to implement the information processing device 10, or it may be a general-purpose computer. Furthermore, the information processing device 10 may be implemented by a single computer 1000, or by a combination of multiple computers 1000.

[0021] Computer 1000 includes a bus 1020, a processor 1040, memory 1060, a storage device 1080, an input / output interface 1100, and a network interface 1120. Bus 1020 is a data transmission path for the processor 1040, memory 1060, storage device 1080, input / output interface 1100, and network interface 1120 to send and receive data to and from each other. However, the method of connecting the processor 1040 and the other components is not limited to bus connection. The processor 1040 is a variety of processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). Memory 1060 is a main memory device implemented using RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. Storage device 1080 is an auxiliary storage device implemented using a hard disk, SSD (Solid State Drive), memory card, or ROM (Read Only Memory), etc.

[0022] The input / output interface 1100 is an interface for connecting the computer 1000 with input / output devices. For example, input devices and output devices are connected to the input / output interface 1100. The method by which the input / output interface 1100 connects to the input devices and output devices may be wireless or wired.

[0023] The network interface 1120 is an interface for connecting the computer 1000 to a network. Examples of such networks include LANs (Local Area Networks) and WANs (Wide Area Networks). The network interface 1120 may connect to the network via a wireless connection or a wired connection.

[0024] In this embodiment, the output unit 210 and the input unit 230 are connected to the information processing device 10 via the input / output interface 1100 or the network interface 1120.

[0025] The storage device 1080 stores program modules that realize each functional component of the information processing device 10. The processor 1040 reads these program modules into the memory 1060 and executes them to realize the functions corresponding to each program module.

[0026] If the history storage unit 101 is provided in the information processing device 10, the history storage unit 101 is implemented using the storage device 1080 of the computer 1000. However, the history storage unit 101 may be provided outside the information processing device 10. In that case, the information processing device 10 can communicate with the history storage unit 101 via at least one of the input / output interface 1100 and the network interface 1120 of the computer 1000 that implements the information processing device 10.

[0027] System 20 may be a navigation device mounted on a mobile vehicle. The mobile vehicle is not particularly limited, but could be a bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or other vehicle. System 20 may be implemented using a terminal such as a smartphone and a server machine. System 20 may be configured to provide directions to the user based on route information. The user may or may not be riding in the mobile vehicle.

[0028] The candidate identification unit 110 acquires route information. The route information consists of information indicating multiple nodes and information indicating multiple links. Nodes indicate locations on a map. Links indicate connections between two nodes. Nodes correspond to, for example, road junctions. The route information includes at least a node indicating the starting point and a node indicating the destination. The node indicating the starting point and the node indicating the destination are connected by multiple links and multiple nodes. The route from the node indicating the starting point to the node indicating the destination is determined by following the multiple links and multiple nodes. The route information may also include one or more nodes indicating waypoints between the node indicating the starting point and the node indicating the destination. The route information may also include the date and time (scheduled arrival date and time or scheduled departure date and time) and the estimated travel time.

[0029] The candidate identification unit 110 may obtain route information from a device other than the information processing device 10, or from another functional component of the information processing device 10 (for example, the route setting unit 160 described later in the second embodiment). Alternatively, the candidate identification unit 110 may read and obtain route information that has been previously stored in a storage device accessible from the candidate identification unit 110.

[0030] The candidate identification unit 110 identifies a route on the map using the acquired route information. It then identifies potential waypoints around the route by searching the map. Specifically, the candidate identification unit 110 searches the map information for spots such as facilities, shops, and tourist destinations whose distance from at least one point on the route is less than or equal to a predetermined distance D, and designates each of the searched spots as a potential waypoint. Usually, multiple potential waypoints are identified, but sometimes only one can be identified. The distance D may be, for example, 2 km or less, or 1 km or less. The distance may be the straight-line distance or the distance along the road. The potential waypoints may be places to stop (begin), or places to pass through, such as a driveway.

[0031] The information acquisition unit 130 acquires information about each of the multiple candidate transit points identified by the candidate identification unit 110. The information about the candidate transit points will also be referred to as "candidate point information" below. The candidate point information may include one or more of the following: image data, video data, text data, and audio data.

[0032] The information acquisition unit 130 can acquire information about potential transit points, for example, by searching the internet. The information acquisition unit 130 communicates with a search engine server via a communication network (e.g., a WAN). By sending search keywords to the search engine, it can obtain search results. The information acquisition unit 130 can use, for example, the name of a potential transit point as a keyword. The search target is not particularly limited, but the information acquisition unit 130 can, for example, search for information about multiple spots registered in a search engine. Alternatively, the information acquisition unit 130 may search for posts on various social networking services (SNS). The information acquisition unit 130 may, for example, search for information on any web page. However, it is not limited to this example, and the information acquisition unit 130 may read and acquire information about potential transit points from information about various spots that is pre-stored in a storage device accessible from the information acquisition unit 130. The method by which the information acquisition unit 130 acquires candidate location information will be described in detail later.

[0033] The generation unit 150 generates output data using the candidate location information acquired by the information acquisition unit 130. Figure 5 is an example of an image displayed using the output data. The output data is, for example, data for displaying at least one of the marks 91 indicating candidate waypoints and candidate location information 92 on the map 93 together with the route 94 (the route indicated by the route information acquired by the candidate identification unit 110). In the example in Figure 5, the marks 95 indicating the departure point and 96 indicating the destination are also displayed. As candidate location information 92, text or photographs related to the candidate waypoints are displayed in a box. The number of candidate locations for which information is output at one time may be predetermined by the output data. As another example, the output data may be data for outputting candidate location information as audio, such as by reading it aloud.

[0034] The generation unit 150 is not required to include all of the candidate location information acquired by the information acquisition unit 130 in the output data. For example, for each transit candidate location, only a portion of the candidate location information acquired by the information acquisition unit 130 may be included in the output data. In that case, based on the input reception unit 120 accepting the selection of any transit candidate location, the generation unit 150 may further generate output data that displays more information about the selected transit candidate location.

[0035] The output control unit 170 outputs the output data generated by the generation unit 150 to the output unit 210. This causes the display unit, which functions as the output unit 210, to display information based on the output data. Alternatively, the audio output unit, which functions as the output unit 210, outputs sound based on the output data.

[0036] The list of multiple candidate intermediate stops may include information not only about intermediate stops close to the destination, but also about intermediate stops that are not close to the destination. For example, the list of multiple candidate intermediate stops identified by the candidate identification unit 110 may include intermediate stops whose distance from the departure point is shorter than their distance from the destination. The candidate stop information acquired by the information acquisition unit 130 may include information about intermediate stops whose distance from the departure point is shorter than their distance from the destination. The generation unit 150 may generate output data that includes at least information about intermediate stops whose distance from the departure point is shorter than their distance from the destination.

[0037] The following will explain further examples of how the information acquisition unit 130 acquires candidate location information. The first to fifth examples described below may be used in combination. By using at least one of the first to fifth examples, the information acquisition unit 130 can acquire candidate location information by narrowing it down to suitable information. In this case, among the multiple transit candidate locations identified by the candidate identification unit 110, transit candidate locations for which candidate location information could not be obtained do not need to be shown in the output data. Furthermore, the information acquisition unit 130 is not limited to the first to fifth examples, and may acquire various information as candidate location information simply by searching based on the names of transit candidate locations.

[0038] <Example 1> The information acquisition unit 130 can acquire candidate location information using at least one of the operation history of the information processing device 10 and the user's movement history. In this way, information that the user is likely to be interested in can be acquired efficiently.

[0039] The operation history of the information processing device 10 is stored in the history storage unit 101. The operation history includes the history of spots where the user has accessed information, and the history of spots designated as destinations or waypoints. The user's movement history is obtained from a GPS (Global Positioning System) module installed in at least one of the following: a mobile terminal owned by the user, a wearable terminal worn by the user, or a vehicle the user is riding in.

[0040] The information acquisition unit 130 identifies, for example, the categories ("restaurants," "tourist spots," "temples and shrines," etc.) of spots that the user has accessed and designated as destinations or transit points, based on the operation history of the information processing device 10. The spot information stored in the history storage unit 101 includes category information, and the information acquisition unit 130 can identify the category based on this information. Alternatively, the information acquisition unit 130 may identify the category of a spot using map information that includes category information for each spot. Furthermore, the information acquisition unit 130 may identify spots that the user has visited based on the user's travel history, and further identify the category of those spots.

[0041] The information acquisition unit 130 then acquires candidate location information based on the category. The information acquisition unit 130 may, for example, include the category name in the search keyword. If filtering by category is possible in the search, the information acquisition unit 130 may filter the search by the specified category.

[0042] The information acquisition unit 130 may, instead of using categories for the search as described above, perform category-based extraction from the results obtained by a search performed without categories. The generation unit 150 may then use the extracted candidate location information to generate output data.

[0043] <Example 2> The information acquisition unit 130 can acquire candidate location information based on at least one of the user's preferences and / or user attributes. By doing so, it can efficiently acquire information that the user is likely to be interested in and present information that is useful to the user. For example, the user can register their preferences with the information processing device 10 in advance. Specifically, the user can register things they are interested in, such as "gourmet food," "motorcycles," or "fashion." Alternatively, as described above in the first example, the information acquisition unit 130 may identify the user's preferences based on the user's operation history of the information processing device 10 or the user's travel history.

[0044] The information acquisition unit 130 then acquires candidate location information based on the user's preferences. The information acquisition unit 130 may include keywords related to the user's preferences (such as "gourmet," "motorcycle," or "fashion") in the search keywords. If filtering by spot category is possible in the search, the information acquisition unit 130 may also filter the search by categories related to the user's preferences. The relationship between preferences and one or more categories related to those preferences may be predetermined in a table or the like and stored in a storage device accessible from the information acquisition unit 130. For example, the preference "gourmet" may be associated with categories such as "cafe" and "restaurant." In addition, the information acquisition unit 130 may include user attributes such as gender, age, and age group in the search keywords.

[0045] As described above, the information acquisition unit 130 may, instead of using information on at least one of preferences and attributes for the search, perform preference-based extraction from the results obtained by a search that does not use information on at least one of preferences and attributes. The generation unit 150 may then use the extracted candidate location information to generate output data.

[0046] <Example 3> The information acquisition unit 130 can acquire candidate destination information using at least one of the date on which the route (the route identified by the route information acquired by the candidate identification unit 110) is scheduled to be traveled, and the time on which the route is scheduled to be traveled. This prevents the acquisition of information on unusable intermediate destinations.

[0047] As mentioned above, route information may also include the date and time the route will be traveled, and the estimated travel time. From this information, the information acquisition unit 130 can identify the planned departure date and time and the planned arrival date and time for that route. In addition, the information acquisition unit 130 may be able to identify the days (business days, etc.) when a candidate stopover is available, the times (business hours, etc.) when a candidate stopover is available, and the days (closed days, etc.) when a candidate stopover is unavailable, based on spot information from search engines, information described on web pages, and information described in social media posts. An example of a day when a candidate stopover is unavailable is the off-season (such as winter for a cherry blossom viewing spot). In this case, the information acquisition unit 130 can use this information to determine whether a candidate stopover is available when traveling that route (for example, between the planned departure date and time and the planned arrival date and time). If it is determined that a candidate stopover is available when traveling that route, the information acquisition unit 130 acquires the candidate stopover information. If it is determined that a candidate stopover point is unavailable when taking that route, the information acquisition unit 130 does not acquire the candidate stopover point information.

[0048] The information acquisition unit 130 may include the condition that the candidate intermediate stops are available when traveling along that route as a search criterion, or it may extract candidate intermediate stop information from the search results obtained without specifying the available time as a criterion.

[0049] <Example 4> The information acquisition unit 130 can acquire candidate site information based on at least one of the following: the recency of the information, the evaluation of the information, and the number of times the information has been accessed.

[0050] The information obtained in the search results may be associated with information indicating the publication date or update date of that information. In such cases, it is preferable that the information acquisition unit 130 does not acquire as candidate location information information information whose recency, as indicated by the publication date or update date, does not meet a predetermined standard (for example, information where the latest of the publication date and update date is not within the last six months). This will suppress the acquisition of old and unreliable information.

[0051] In some cases, user reviews and other information about a location may be associated with reader ratings of that information. In such cases, it is preferable for the information acquisition unit 130 not to acquire information that has not received a rating above a predetermined standard as candidate location information. This will help to suppress the acquisition of unhelpful or unreliable information.

[0052] In the case of information such as web pages, the number of accesses to that information (page) may be associated with it. In such cases, it is preferable for the information acquisition unit 130 not to acquire information with fewer accesses than a predetermined standard as candidate location information. This will suppress the acquisition of information that is not useful as a reference.

[0053] The information acquisition unit 130 may set these conditions during the search, or it may extract information from the search results based on these conditions.

[0054] <Example 5> In the example shown in Figure 3, the information processing device 10 includes a reliability determination unit 140. The reliability determination unit 140 determines the reliability of candidate location information. The reliability determination unit 140 can calculate the reliability of candidate location information included in the search results obtained by the information acquisition unit 130 using one or more of the above-mentioned factors: the freshness of the information, the evaluation of the information, and the number of accesses to the information. For example, a formula is predetermined that can calculate the reliability by substituting the number of days elapsed since the most recent publication date and update date and time, the evaluation value for the information, and the number of accesses. The reliability determination unit 140 can then calculate the reliability of candidate location information by inputting the number of days elapsed since the most recent publication date and update date and time of the candidate location information, the evaluation value for that candidate location information, and the number of accesses to that candidate location information into the formula.

[0055] The information acquisition unit 130 may use the confidence level calculated by the confidence level identification unit 140 to extract candidate location information from the search results that the generation unit 150 should use. For example, the information acquisition unit 130 extracts candidate location information with a confidence level above a predetermined standard as candidate location information that the generation unit 150 should use to generate output data.

[0056] The generation unit 150 may further use confidence levels to generate output data. If the number of candidate locations for which information is output at once is predetermined by the output data, a predetermined number of candidate location information items with high confidence levels are selected to be included in the output data. In this way, effective information can be provided in the displayed image without hindering the visibility of the map. The generation unit 150 may further display the confidence level of each candidate location information item in the output data.

[0057] The above describes the first to fifth examples of how the information acquisition unit 130 acquires candidate site information.

[0058] The information acquisition unit 130 may also acquire candidate location information or narrow down the candidate location information using a machine learning model. For example, the training data for the machine learning model can include at least one of the user's operation history of the information processing device 10 and the user's movement history. The model can be trained for each user.

[0059] For example, if the search results obtained by the information acquisition unit 130 include the congestion level of the candidate route, or if the information acquisition unit 130 can obtain traffic congestion information based on VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) (registered trademark), the generation unit 150 may further include the congestion level of the candidate route in the output data. The generation unit 150 may also generate output data that separately displays the congestion level of parking lots around the candidate route and the congestion level of the candidate route itself.

[0060] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the processing flow performed by the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment.

[0061] In step S101, the candidate identification unit 110 acquires route information. In step S102, the candidate identification unit 110 uses the acquired route information to identify a route and identifies multiple candidate intermediate locations located around that route. In step S103, the information acquisition unit 130 sets search conditions (keywords, filters, etc.) for each candidate intermediate location using various information as described above. Then, in step S104, the information acquisition unit 130 sends the set search conditions to a search engine to execute the search. The information acquisition unit 130 then obtains candidate location information for each candidate intermediate location as a search result. For a single candidate intermediate location, information from multiple web pages or multiple blog posts may be acquired as candidate location information.

[0062] In step S105, the generation unit 150 selects one or more candidate transit points from among multiple candidate transit points, in which the candidate transit point information should be included in the output data. The generation unit 150 may select one or more candidate transit points based on confidence levels as described above, or it may select one or more candidate transit points randomly. However, the generation unit 150 may not perform step S105 and may include candidate transit point information for all candidate transit points in the output data.

[0063] In step S106, the generation unit 150 generates output data using the candidate location information selected in step S105. The output control unit 170 then outputs the output data generated by the generation unit 150 to the output unit 210. In this way, the candidate location information is presented to the user.

[0064] As described above, according to this embodiment, the candidate identification unit 110 uses route information indicating the route to the destination to identify candidate waypoints located within a predetermined range based on the route. The information acquisition unit 130 acquires information about the candidate waypoints. The generation unit 150 generates output data using the acquired information about the candidate waypoints. Therefore, information about candidate waypoints around the route can be provided to the user in advance.

[0065] (Second embodiment) Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the information processing device 10 and system 20 according to the second embodiment. The information processing device 10 according to this embodiment is the same as the information processing device 10 according to the first embodiment, except that it includes a route setting unit 160.

[0066] The candidate identification unit 110 identifies multiple candidate intermediate locations. The generation unit 150 generates output data to present the multiple candidate intermediate locations. The input reception unit 120 accepts the selection of one of the multiple candidate intermediate locations. Then, the route setting unit 160 updates the route to include the candidate intermediate location accepted by the input reception unit 120 as an intermediate location. This will be explained in detail below.

[0067] In this embodiment, the route setting unit 160 sets a route and generates route information. Specifically, the user specifies the departure point and destination using the input unit 230. The user may specify the departure point or destination by selecting a point on the map displayed on the display unit, or by entering a spot name or address. The input reception unit 120 receives the specified departure point and destination entered using the input unit 230. The user may further specify a planned departure date and time or a planned arrival date and time, and the input reception unit 120 may receive this as well. The route setting unit 160 can set a route using the received information in an existing manner.

[0068] In this embodiment, the candidate identification unit 110 acquires route information generated by the route setting unit 160. Then, as in the first embodiment, output data is generated by the generation unit 150, and candidate location information is presented to the user.

[0069] The user can review information on the multiple suggested waypoints presented and, if they wish to use a particular waypoint, select that waypoint using the input unit 230. When the input receiving unit 120 receives the selection of any waypoint, the route setting unit 160 readjusts the route to include the selected waypoint and updates the route information.

[0070] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating the processing flow performed by the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment. In step S201, the route setting unit 160 sets a route based on the specified departure point or destination and generates route information indicating that route. In step S202, the candidate identification unit 110 obtains the route information from the route setting unit 160. Steps S203 to S207 are the same as steps S102 to S106 described in the first embodiment.

[0071] After step S207, if the user selects any of the candidate waypoints as a waypoint (Yes in step S208), the route setting unit 160 updates the route information to include that candidate waypoint (step S209). The updated route information may be displayed on the display unit or output to a device other than the information processing device 10. If the system 20 is configured to provide directions to the user based on the route information, the directions will be provided using the updated route information.

[0072] On the other hand, if the operation to select a candidate waypoint as a waypoint is not performed (No. in step S208), the route is not updated. If the system 20 is configured to provide directions to the user based on the route information, the directions will be provided using the unupdated route information, i.e., the route information generated in step S201.

[0073] In one example, the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment may receive the expected arrival date and time and destination entered by the user and generate data that presents the user with multiple routes including one or more candidate intermediate stops. Specifically, the route setting unit 160 sets a provisional route based on the expected arrival date and time and destination entered by the user. The candidate identification unit 110 identifies candidate intermediate stops for the provisional route, and the route setting unit 160 sets multiple routes including one or more candidate intermediate stops. The generation unit 150 then generates data that displays the set multiple routes.

[0074] In this case, the user can perform an operation on the information processing device 10 to select one of several routes. That is, the information processing device 10 accepts the selection result of one of the multiple routes. The candidate identification unit 110 acquires route information indicating the selected route, and as described above, candidate intermediate stops may be identified and presented, or navigation of the selected route may be performed. In this way, even users who have not thought of a detailed plan can receive a proposal including candidate intermediate stops simply by specifying the expected arrival date and time and destination, thereby improving convenience.

[0075] The hardware configuration of the computer implementing the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment is shown, for example, in Figure 4, similar to the information processing device 10 according to the first embodiment. However, the storage device 1080 of the computer 1000 implementing the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment further stores a program module that implements the functions of the root setting unit 160 according to this embodiment.

[0076] The information processing device 10 according to this embodiment may include a reliability determination unit 140, or it may include a history storage unit 101, similar to the first embodiment.

[0077] According to this embodiment, the same functions and effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, according to this embodiment, the route setting unit 160 updates the route to include the candidate waypoints received by the input reception unit 120 as waypoints. Therefore, if a user finds a candidate waypoint of interest, they can easily set it as a waypoint.

[0078] (Third embodiment) Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the information processing device 10 and system 20 according to the third embodiment. The information processing device 10 according to this embodiment is the same as the information processing device 10 according to the first embodiment, except that it includes a location identification unit 180.

[0079] In this embodiment, the output control unit 170 transmits output data to the output unit 210 provided on the mobile body. The candidate identification unit 110 identifies a plurality of candidate transit points. The location identification unit 180 identifies the location of the mobile body. The generation unit 150 generates output data using candidate location information extracted from the plurality of candidate transit points using the location information of the mobile body.

[0080] In this embodiment, the user of system 20 is riding in a mobile vehicle. The user may or may not be the driver of the mobile vehicle. In this embodiment, the generation unit 150 generates output data while the user is moving along the route indicated in the route information in the mobile vehicle. The generation unit 150 may also generate output data before the user departs, i.e., before moving along the route, in the same manner as in the first or second embodiment.

[0081] The location identification unit 180 can determine the location of a moving object by acquiring location information from a GPS module installed in at least one of the following: a mobile terminal owned by the user, a wearable terminal worn by the user, or a moving object in which the user is riding.

[0082] In this embodiment, the generation unit 150 extracts the candidate route closest to the current location of the moving object from among a plurality of candidate route routes identified by the candidate identification unit 110, based on the current location identified by the location identification unit 180. This extraction is repeated at a predetermined interval (for example, every 30 seconds). The generation unit 150 then generates output data each time to present candidate route information of the extracted candidate route route, i.e., the candidate route route closest to the current location, to the user. The candidate route information presented in this output data may be information of a candidate route route selected as a route route, as in the second embodiment, or it may be information of a candidate route route that has not been selected.

[0083] The generation unit 150 may generate output data to present candidate location information of a certain candidate route to the user when the distance between the moving object and a certain candidate route becomes less than or equal to a predetermined distance, based on the current location identified by the location identification unit 180.

[0084] Furthermore, the candidate location information used by the generation unit 150 to generate the output data may be information acquired in real time by the information acquisition unit 130 at that time, or it may be information acquired in advance before departure and stored in a storage device accessible from the generation unit 150. When candidate location information is acquired in real time, if the search results indicate that the candidate stopover location is temporarily closed, the output control unit 170 does not have to display the candidate location information, or it may generate output data that displays a message indicating that it is temporarily closed.

[0085] The output control unit 170 preferably causes the audio output unit to output sound, such as reading out information, based on the output data. This makes it easier for the user to understand the information even when they are driving a moving vehicle.

[0086] In addition, the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment may present candidate routes around the current location of a mobile object when no specific route is defined and the mobile object is not traveling on a route. That is, the candidate identification unit 110 identifies one or more candidate routes located within a predetermined range from the current location identified by the location identification unit 180. The generation unit 150 then generates output data that presents information on one or more candidate routes located within a predetermined range from the current location. If the information processing device 10 is implemented as a portable terminal (such as a smartphone), the information processing device 10 may present candidate routes around the user's current location when the user is not on a mobile object. For example, the information processing device 10 can display the location of a user's favorite store on a map when the user is walking in a shopping mall.

[0087] The hardware configuration of the computer implementing the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment is similar to that of the information processing device 10 according to the first embodiment, and is shown, for example, in Figure 4. However, the storage device 1080 of the computer 1000 implementing the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment further stores a program module that implements the functions of the location identification unit 180 according to this embodiment.

[0088] The information processing device 10 according to this embodiment may include a reliability determination unit 140, as in the first embodiment, or a history storage unit 101. Furthermore, the information processing device 10 according to this embodiment may include a route setting unit 160, as in the second embodiment.

[0089] As described above, this embodiment provides the same functions and effects as the first embodiment. In addition, according to this embodiment, the generation unit 150 generates output data using candidate location information extracted from among a plurality of candidate route locations using the location information of the moving object. Therefore, information on candidate route locations close to the current location can be presented to the user.

[0090] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, but these are merely examples of the present invention, and various other configurations can also be adopted.

[0091] Furthermore, while the flowcharts used in the above description show multiple steps (processes) in sequence, the execution order of the steps performed in each embodiment is not limited to the order in which they are described. In each embodiment, the order of the illustrated steps can be changed to the extent that it does not impede the content. Also, the above embodiments can be combined to the extent that their contents do not conflict.

[0092] Examples of reference formats are provided below. 1. A candidate identification unit that identifies candidate intermediate locations located within a predetermined range based on the route, using route information that indicates the route to the destination. An information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the aforementioned candidate transit points, The system includes a generation unit that generates output data using the acquired information regarding candidate transit points. Information processing device. 2. In the information processing device described in 1., The output data is data for displaying at least one of the marks indicating the candidate waypoints and information about the candidate waypoints on a map along with the route. Information processing device. 3. In the information processing device described in 1. or 2., The candidate identification unit identifies a plurality of candidate transit locations, The generation unit generates the output data for presenting the plurality of candidate transit points, An input receiving unit that accepts the selection of one of the aforementioned multiple candidate transit points, Route setting unit that updates the aforementioned route and Furthermore, The route setting unit updates the route so that the candidate transit points received by the input receiving unit as selection results are used as transit points. Information processing device. 4. In the information processing device described in any one of 1. to 3., The system further includes an output control unit that transmits the output data to an output unit provided on the mobile body. The candidate identification unit identifies a plurality of candidate transit locations, The generation unit generates the output data using information about the candidate route locations extracted from the plurality of candidate route locations using the location information of the moving object. Information processing device. 5. In the information processing device described in any one of 1. to 4., The information acquisition unit acquires information regarding the candidate transit points by searching the internet. Information processing device. 6. In the information processing device described in any one of items 1 to 5, The information acquisition unit acquires information regarding the candidate transit points using at least one of the operation history of the information processing device and the user's movement history. Information processing device. 7. In an information processing device described in any one of items 1 to 6, The information acquisition unit acquires information about the candidate waypoints using at least one of the date on which the route is scheduled to be traveled and the time on which the route is scheduled to be traveled. Information processing device. 8. In an information processing device described in any one of items 1 to 7, The information acquisition unit acquires information regarding the candidate transit points based on at least one of the following: the recency of the information, the evaluation of the information, and the number of times the information has been accessed. Information processing device. 9. In the information processing device described in any one of items 1 to 8, The system further includes a reliability determination unit that determines the reliability of the information regarding the aforementioned candidate transit locations, The generation unit further uses the confidence level to generate the output data. Information processing device. 10. An information processing method performed by one or more computers, A candidate identification step involves using route information that indicates the route to the destination to identify candidate intermediate locations that are located within a predetermined range based on the said route, An information acquisition step to acquire information about the aforementioned candidate transit locations, This includes a generation step of generating output data using the acquired information on candidate transit points. Information processing methods. 11. Computers, Candidate identification means that uses route information indicating the route to the destination to identify candidate intermediate locations located within a predetermined range based on the said route, Information acquisition means for acquiring information about the aforementioned candidate transit points, and A generation means that generates output data using the acquired information on candidate transit points. To make it function as program. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0093] 10 Information Processing Devices 20 Systems 101 History Storage Unit 110 Candidate identification part 120 Input reception section 130 Information Acquisition Department 140 Reliability Identification Department 150 Generation part 160 Route setting section 170 Output Control Unit 180 Location identification part 210 Output section 230 Input section 1000 calculator

Claims

1. A candidate identification unit identifies candidate intermediate locations located within a predetermined range based on the route, using route information that indicates the route to the destination. An information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the aforementioned candidate transit points, The system includes a generation unit that generates output data using the acquired information regarding candidate transit points. Information processing device.

2. In the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, The output data is data for displaying at least one of the marks indicating the candidate waypoints and information about the candidate waypoints on a map along with the route. Information processing device.

3. In the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, The candidate identification unit identifies a plurality of candidate transit locations, The generation unit generates the output data for presenting the plurality of candidate transit points, An input receiving unit that accepts the selection of one of the aforementioned multiple candidate transit points, Route setting unit that updates the aforementioned route and Furthermore, The route setting unit updates the route so that the candidate transit points received by the input receiving unit as selection results are used as transit points. Information processing device.

4. In the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, The system further includes an output control unit that transmits the output data to an output unit provided on the mobile body. The candidate identification unit identifies a plurality of candidate transit locations, The generation unit generates the output data using information about the candidate route locations extracted from the plurality of candidate route locations using the location information of the moving object. Information processing device.

5. In the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, The information acquisition unit acquires information regarding the candidate transit points by searching the internet. Information processing device.

6. In the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, The information acquisition unit acquires information regarding the candidate transit points using at least one of the operation history of the information processing device and the user's movement history. Information processing device.

7. In the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, The information acquisition unit acquires information about the candidate waypoints using at least one of the date on which the route is scheduled to be traveled and the time on which the route is scheduled to be traveled. Information processing device.

8. In the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, The information acquisition unit acquires information regarding the candidate transit points based on at least one of the following: the recency of the information, the evaluation of the information, and the number of times the information has been accessed. Information processing device.

9. In the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, The system further includes a reliability determination unit that determines the reliability of the information regarding the aforementioned candidate transit locations, The generation unit further uses the confidence level to generate the output data. Information processing device.

10. An information processing method performed by one or more computers, A candidate identification step involves using route information that indicates the route to the destination to identify candidate intermediate locations that are located within a predetermined range based on the said route, An information acquisition step to acquire information about the aforementioned candidate transit locations, This includes a generation step of generating output data using the acquired information on candidate transit points. Information processing methods.

11. Computers, Candidate identification means that uses route information indicating the route to the destination to identify candidate intermediate locations located within a predetermined range based on the said route, Information acquisition means for acquiring information about the aforementioned candidate transit points, and A generation means that generates output data using the acquired information on candidate transit points. To make it function as program.

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